I know it's been a long while since I've updated any of my stories. But life has taken a path of its own lately. Anyways, here's the next chapter!
Chapter 7: Road to Destiny
Eventually Breukelen disentangled himself from me. Leaving me once again to seek comfort in the heat of the fire that blazed before me. My mind had become a muddled mess of emotions. It is a mix of hate, anger and that unmistakable burn of love that echoed throughout my entire being.
I didn't know what to think anymore. My moral anchor had been uprooted and turned. I was now left to float a drift on the barren sea of the unknown. A prospect I was not looking forward to.
Eventually Breukelen returned, bringing news that the people of Castle Wyvern were relieved with my safe return home. He reassured me that no one would be disturbing us this evening. He had made sure to let them know of my delicate and panicked condition and that I only wished to be left alone. To repent for any sins I must have committed in order to receive such a close call with Death.
Apparently it worked. No one disturbed Breukelen and I for the remainder of the night. And I was strangely proud of his use of knowledge on the human race to tug at there basic human emotions. For no one messed with a person's moments with God.
It was shortly after however that we learned of Princess Finelle's quick leave of Castle Wyvern and one of Princess Katharine's prized mares.
And so then Breukelen and I huddled together his large wings wrapping around me, encasing us in a cocoon. Effectively blocking out the world around us. We sat there in silence only now and again exchange the chaste of kisses. Until eventually I fell asleep to the crackle of the fire and the slow evening rise of my Guardians chest.
I woke the next morning, lying snuggled deep within my bed. In a panic I pushed the covers away from me and searched my room in earnest. Eventually my eyes landed on the hard stone figure of my Guardian, as he stood frozen in stone on my balcony. Looking into my room instead of out and over the land as normal.
With a sigh I lay back down knowing it would be hours still before I would be with Breukelen again. As I lay there I heard the soft rapping at my door, knowing it would be my lady maids ready to prepare me for my day ahead. Again I sighed in exasperation.
I was in no mood to be tucked, pulled and stuffed into whatever gown the world believed was necessary for me to wear. All I wanted to do was lay here in my warm bed and stare forlornly out to my love on the balcony. But with the resounding echo of another hasty knock I know that this would never be and resigned my self to another day of being a Princess.
"Come in," I called pushing my self up into a sitting position. The door pushed open and I was surprised by not seeing my lady maids but Princess Katharine instead.
"My Lady," I said hastily trying in vain to cover myself in order to convey some sort of civility.
"No need Princess Alexandra, I do not mean to keep you long or to interrupt your sleep," she spoke to me in a calm manner. I nodded politely and quit my attempts to cover myself. "I wanted to apologize for the dreadful event that took place here yesterday. I had no idea that Princess Fenella would ever attempt such a…hostile attempt on anyone's life. Especially not on one such as your self."
"It was indeed quite jarring. But I do believe with some rest I will recover quite quickly," I reassured her, even giving her a small smile. She didn't say anything for a moment and then nodded her head once in acceptance.
"Nevertheless, we have gotten word from one of our scouts. The Vikings have landed on Scotland's shores. At this time we do not know where of which they will becoming but all precautions must be made," she informed me. I looked at here confused unsure as to why she was telling me all of this information. I was not normally privy to this type of talk. Especially because of my social standing, my Father being an enemy King and my relationships with the Gargoyles. "Because of this it has come under my decision that given last nights attempt on your life it would be best to make sure that you are safely returned to your Kingdom."
I stared at her for a long moment. Not completely understand what she was telling me.
"You wish for me to return home?" I ask her to just confirm that what I've heard from her was indeed correct.
"Yes," she stated simply.
"But I do not wish to return home," I reply to her with an eagerness I wish I didn't feel. "I wish to stay here. Castle Wyvern has become my home. I have no desire to return to my Father's Castle my Lady."
"I am sorry Princess Alexandra, the decision has been made. You will be escorted back by your Gargoyle Guardian this evening. Your Father I am sure will be quite displeased with last nights events and knowing his only child and daughter is safe will most likely place him at ease," She diplomatically explained to me. And if I were not consorting with my Gargoyle Guardian I would have easily agreed with her. But all I could see was another door being promptly shut in both Breukelen's face and mine.
Princess Katharine left soon after that, ushering in my lady maids to tuck me into a deep blue dress. It was more modern than what I was normally used to. It had full skirts, a tight bodice and a plunging neckline. A gown more fit for a French Queen than that of a Scottish Princess.
But I did not complain as I held in a breath and prayed for some sort of miracle.
I watched all evening as my chests were packed, dresses sorted and folded and everything I hadn't even considered dear to me in the last few months was packed away. I waited patiently for the sun to set. Allowing the gloom of the last twenty-four hours to settle heavily over me.
I listened to the chipping gossip of the lady maids as they talked about my near death experience and how distraught everyone seemed. Of how Finella seemed so distressed as she told everyone that I had jumped at the idea of my Father marrying me off to some strange man. How my Guardian without even a word spoken to him went off in search of me. Then of course Fenella's abrupt and silent disappearance into the night.
It was all so strange. I hadn't even considered it before. What had Finella been talking about? How did she know about my suitor from back home? But then again it was probably common knowledge. It was surely an event most people will be looking forward to, hoping to be invited too. It will be the biggest celebration of the New Year, my wedding.
I shrugged it off, hoping it was just the mad ravings of desperate woman. And with that thought the sun set and my Guardian's evening cry echoed across my room. Causing my lady maids to start in fright.
"Be quite," I demanded as I rose gracefully from my position on my chaise lounge. It took me only seconds to cross the distance from my side of the room to my balcony. I reached Breukelen as he shook off the rest of the stone skin he had only moments ago shed.
I did not rush towards him, as I would have wanted too. But stood as I had when I had first met him proud, arrogant and extremely naïve. My hands folded neatly in from of my tumble of blue silk skirts. It had indeed been a belated gift from my Father from the French Queen's court.
"Princess Alexandra," Breukelen addressed me as he bowed low in the way that I had taught him so many weeks ago. His eyes wandering past me at the huddle of young lady maids crouched half-scared half-curious at the beast before me. I dipped into a low curtsey. To low for someone of his standing, but one I thought was appropriate for the creature my heart desired.
"New dress?" He asked with a raised eyebrow as we both rose from our bowed positions. His eyes such a wonderful shade of amber raked over my tethered form in a very appreciative manner.
"Yes, a gift from my Father from the French court. Apparently it is all the European rage at the moment. He wanted to make sure I looked not as a Princess of old ideas but one that was willing to move with what was current in our society. He also apparently thought it would be something beautiful for me to wear on my return trip back to Castle Dalriada," I explained to him with all the formality one of my stations should have.
Breukelen's eyes left mine and switched from my stunning blue gown to the stacks of chests that lined my room. Then the reality of the situation set in.
"When do you depart?" He asked with more formality that I was shocked into a moment of silence.
"Princess Katharine has requested that you escort me home. My luggage will be sent by carriage ahead of us. Afterwards you are return to Castle Wyvern to prepare for the upcoming battle. Princess Katharine's scouts have confirmed that the Vikings have landed on Scotland's shores. As you have already pledged fealty to Castle Wyvern you are required to protect your Castle and the people that reside inside of it," I explained to him. Letting him know that I would not be one of the people he would be protecting.
"No," he said shaking his head in protest. "You are my charge and I do not abandon the people who have been placed within my care. Castle Wyvern has plenty of protection from the Vikings while Castle Dalriada has none."
"We have plenty of fine soldiers that have trained for years, who have fought in many battles along side my Father in foreign conquests. Gargoyles will not be accepted into Castle Dalriada with open arms. If anything you will be killed on spot for being creations of the devil. And I personally will not allow that to happen. So yes, you will follow Princess Katharine's orders. Its our duty," I reminded him with desperate eyes. Trying to make him understand that he must do as he is told. I tried to convey that not only do our futures depend on it but so do our lives.
"We always have a choice Alexandra," He grounded out to me, his teeth grinding as he was once again bound by duty to do something he absolutely couldn't bare to do.
"No Breukelen we do not, not now anyways," I whispered to him trying to hold the tears back. The idea of living my days without him, seemed unbearable. To have nothing to look forward seemed like a bleak existence. Even if it is just to hold him forever within my line of sight.
We said nothing more, for there was nothing more to say. Breukelen moved closer to me allowing me to once again wrap my arms tightly around his strong neck. He lifted me up, my skirts following in tresses in front of us. He nodded once to the lady maids as they giggled at the exchange and we turned towards the balcony.
Breukelen unfurled his large wings and with one large gust of cold icy wind we began to glide back towards my home and the start of our breaking hearts.
The trip was silent for the most part. Niether of us knowing exactly what we can or should say to the other. The realities of our lives quickly baring down on us. Me a human Princess destined to rule a realm with a human husband at my side. Breukelen destined to be the leader of the last remaining Gargoyle clan. Two worlds, two destinies neither with the other in them. So instead we remained silent, listening to the cold wind ripple through the trees.
"I am not going back," Bruekelen stated again. This time however with more determination.
"You have no choice, you are second in command what if something happened? You need to be there to protect your family," I murmured to him the sound of reasoning falling dead even on my ears.
"I am not going to live a life without you in it Lexie. I don't care if I have to stand by and watch you marry another and carve out a life as a human. I refuse to leave your side. I break my fealty to Castle Wyvern and place my fealty to you instead."
I balked at him. It would cause a war for sure. A Gargoyle has never declared fealty to a human. Not to my knowledge anyways. What would happen? Would my father accept him as a sort of gift for my services rendered at Castle Wyvern? Would he forever be enslaved to the duties of humanity? I prayed not.
"I won't let you throw your life away just because you and I care for one another," I hoffed.
"I love you Alexandra and that will never change."
The statement was simple, true and without doubt. It was the kind of proculmation a young woman waits to hear her entire life from some suitor of their choice. But for me it sounded like a death sentence for him. His love of me would surely get him killed or worse yet. But the sadest part was, that I too loved him.
And so I let him know that before our world together ended, "I love you too Bruekelen, much more than you will ever truly know."
I could feel the shuddered that ran through him as the words impacted him. Causing him to tighten his grip on me as if at any moment I would slip through his clawed hands.
It seemed like only minutes later that we could see the torched lights coming off of Castle Dalriada. Then in seconds the sounds of people and Castle life were echoing up to us as we circled the Castle. I looked down and saw my people milling about, none paying to close attention to the circling bat like creature from above. Then I turned my face up towards my Gaurdian, my Breukelen and I could see the youngness in his face, see the desperation there. I could say nothing but brush my lips across his strong face as tears began to fall from my eyes.
He turned his face towards me, nuzzling his long beak into my hair. Taking long drags of my sent as he did so.
"I love you," He whispered. "For the rest of eternity I will always love you."
I nodded in kind, unable to speak for fear of losing all emotional control. Then we began our desent back to reality. I clung to him tightly one last time, taking him in, burning him into my skin. And then we landed with a rather large umpf and I was back to being Princess Alexandra and he was back to being a creature of the night. A Gargoyle.